Get Ready! The Salt Lake Temple Is Opening Its Doors to Everyone

Hold onto your hats, Salt Lake City—something truly extraordinary is coming your way in 2027. After more than 130 years of being off-limits to the general public, the iconic Salt Lake Temple is throwing open its doors for an unprecedented open house that promises to be unlike anything the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has ever done before.

What’s All the Excitement About?

Imagine this: between April 5 and October 1, 2027, somewhere between 3 to 5 million people will be visiting downtown Salt Lake City to tour the newly renovated Salt Lake Temple. We’re talking 20,000 to 29,000 visitors every single day for six straight months. To put that in perspective, that’s roughly equivalent to hosting one entire session of the church’s biannual general conference daily. Every. Single. Day.

For context, even the 2002 Winter Olympics—which brought an estimated 70,000 visitors daily—only lasted 17 days and sold over 1.5 million tickets. This open house is operating on a completely different scale.

A Building Reborn

The Salt Lake Temple closed its doors on January 1, 2020, for some much-needed TLC. We’re talking serious seismic upgrades and extensive renovations—the kind of work that takes real time and expertise. The good news? All that reconstruction will be wrapped up by the end of this year, making way for the grand reopening extravaganza.

This isn’t just about slapping a fresh coat of paint on an old building. This is a complete transformation of one of Salt Lake City’s most recognizable structures.

What to Expect When You Visit

Here’s the exciting part—what actually happens when you show up for your tour?

The Route:
Your journey begins at the Church’s Conference Center, just north of Temple Square. From there, you’ll make your way underground directly into the Temple itself—a pretty cool entrance experience, if you ask us.

The Timeline:
Plan for 60 to 80 minutes inside the Temple for the actual tour. But here’s the thing: once you’re inside the perimeter of Temple Square, you’ll have access to way more than just the Temple. You’ll get to see the new statues, explore other church buildings, and soak in the entire Temple Square experience. Visitors should budget several hours for the complete experience.

The Guides:
The church is calling special missionaries to serve as docents throughout the open house period. These dedicated volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and help guide you through the restored spaces.

How to Score Your Tickets

Thinking about going? Here’s what you need to know:

Booking Your Tour:
In late August or early September 2027, the Church will launch a dedicated app for booking your tour times. No more scrambling at the gate—you’ll be able to plan your visit in advance. Smart move for handling millions of people.

Getting Downtown:
Worried about parking and traffic? The church has thought of that. They’ve partnered with UTA to offer special access to TRAX, FrontRunner, and bus services for ticket holders. Plus, they’re leasing property at South Temple and Redwood Road for a lighted, secure park-and-ride lot with regular shuttle service straight to Temple Square.

Even better? Church employees are getting free UTA passes for the entire six-month period to help reduce downtown congestion.

VIP Pre-Visit:
If you’re a nearby business owner or resident, you’re in luck. The church is inviting local businesses and residents to tour the Temple in March 2027, before the general public opens it up in April. First dibs, essentially.

Planning for the Crowds

City officials and church leaders aren’t taking this lightly. They’re planning for larger numbers rather than smaller ones—basically, they’d rather over-prepare than end up overwhelmed by unprecedented crowds.

“We’re planning for a larger number rather than a smaller number so that we don’t get overwhelmed,” explained one church spokesperson overseeing the logistics.

This kind of massive event requires serious coordination, and both the City of Salt Lake and the Church are working together to ensure the experience runs smoothly.

Why This Matters

Let’s be real: this is a once-in-a-lifetime event for Salt Lake City. The last time the general public was allowed inside the Salt Lake Temple was over 130 years ago. Your kids, your grandkids—they might never get another chance like this.

Whether you’re a member of the church or simply curious about one of Salt Lake City’s most famous buildings, 2027 is shaping up to be an unforgettable year downtown.

Mark your calendars. Download that app when it launches. And get ready for one heck of a visitor season.

The Salt Lake Temple open house is coming. Are you ready?